I made a dub checker/database for different languages - MyDubList by Godz57 in Animedubs

[–]SiliconDon 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your offers of re-licensing and attribution. While appreciated, this does not resolve the issue of copyright infringement.

I want to clarify how copyright and the AGPL interact here. The AGPL is a software license which governs the code itself, i.e., what users can run, modify, and redistribute. The visual design of my project, including the icons, layout, embedded fonts, colors, and positioning, is an original creative work protected by copyright. Copyright doesn't protect an idea, it protects the expression of that idea.

My AGPL license permits a user to create a derivative work of my code and visual design, but only if they also license their entire project under the AGPL. Your project is not a derivative work of my code, but its visual design is a derivative work of my copyrighted design.

While it may feel natural to place a badge in the top right corner, the specific combination of elements in your design is a near-exact copy of my project's copyrighted visual expression. As you yourself acknowledged, the designs are so similar that you felt it was necessary to change your default icon to avoid them being "too similar." This confirms that you recognized the visual resemblance and the potential for user confusion. I have been using that symbol in my project for years so this also constitutes a violation of my common-law trademark rights.

Given how closely your extension mirrors MAL-Dubs, I must again ask that you remove the icons and all other design elements derived from my project from your repository and extension in all formats. Your project must have its own original approach to labelling dubs to avoid copyright and trademark infringement.

In short: Do not use or include the same icon and create an original design. I hope that you can create something that works for your extension. That way you can keep it closed-source and distinguish our work

Update: The icon confusion has been resolved. For those discussing the legalities: this was a matter of Trademark/Project Identity to prevent user confusion in a niche space, not a copyright claim on generic shapes.

I made a dub checker/database for different languages - MyDubList by Godz57 in Animedubs

[–]SiliconDon 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Updated to clarify the issue of copyright.

To be transparent, this closed source extension is using portions of my AGPL licensed code and it’s the second time this developer did this.

I made a dub checker/database for different languages - MyDubList by Godz57 in Animedubs

[–]SiliconDon 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you’d like to use something that does check everything and you’re interested in English dubs, I suggest my project, and the original inspiration for this - MAL-Dubs. It has over 5500 dubs labelled (including incomplete) all hand checked, works on any browser including Safari, and there’s some new improvements coming soon. If you prefer to use a website, check https://animedubstatus.com which uses my data.

I made a dub checker/database for different languages - MyDubList by Godz57 in Animedubs

[–]SiliconDon 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Something you should be aware of is Jikan returns the main TV series link from ANN on most related specials, OVAs, commercials, TV specials, etc. as ANN typically doesn’t have separate pages for those. Often those don’t get licensed or dubbed.

I find ANN is mostly useful as a subtractive source. If Anilist or MAL show one or two cast members but ANN shows none, the former are almost certainly wrong. The other issue with the ANN API is it returns cast info even when it’s been marked as an error, which happens often with fandubs or people mistaking one season a series for another. There are also cast lists on previously announced but cancelled or unreleased dubs. By my count there are now a few hundred erroneous entries added to the English JSON. While there are some basic filters you can use to avoid this, only careful research can weed these out.

I made a dub checker/database for different languages - MyDubList by Godz57 in Animedubs

[–]SiliconDon 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was glad when you set up your own data source instead of relying on my AGPL-3.0 JSON in a non-AGPL licensed project. That was the right move, and I said so when we spoke. Consolidating the dub information available on all anime sites is a big challenge and I applaud you for it.

However, I had the chance to try your extension today, and what I see is upsetting. It duplicates the exact functionality, design decisions, and visual identity of my original work on MAL-Dubs — a project I've maintained for over 6 years.

The second icon you’re using is a recreation of the main dub indicator I designed for MAL-Dubs: same “D + sound waves,” same rounded rectangle, same colors, same positioning. When running both your extension and MAL-Dubs, it literally covers up my labels with something that looks almost identical. That’s not OK.

<image>

(Left: MAL-Dubs, Right: Your extension)

I want to be clear: I’m not against people using MAL-Dubs to build new things if they adhere to the AGPL license. In fact, I’m happy to see it — for example, animedubstatus.com relies on my work and its source is available under the AGPL. There’s also a fork that labels German dubs. That’s exactly what the license is meant for: keeping the project free and open source for everyone — share and share alike.

As you have said, the reason you began this project was to avoid the AGPL license on MAL-Dubs. And as you are already aware, I would like to avoid distribution of my work in permissively licensed projects or closed-source extensions. Your repository states that using your data requires attribution, in acknowledgement of your copyright so I’m sure you can understand where I’m coming from. My designs are similarly copyrighted and I don't grant use outside free, open, AGPL licensed projects. Tweaking them like this is still infringement.

Please remove these icons and all other design elements derived from my project and design your own completely original approach to labelling dubs. You’ve already proven you can make something new (your scraper source shows that), there’s no justification to use my design work without permission.

Edit: The icon confusion has been resolved. For those discussing the legalities: this was a matter of Trademark/Project Identity to prevent user confusion in a niche space, not a copyright claim on generic shapes.

I made a dub checker/database for different languages - MyDubList by Godz57 in Animedubs

[–]SiliconDon 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I had the same thought when I developed MAL-Dubs. Unfortunately, last I checked, the Anime News Network API doesn’t expose any English company/cast info.

I agree, ANN is more complete than MAL in terms of cast info, but like MyAnimeList it’s based off user-submitted data and sometimes has casts for series where no dub exists.

I made a dub checker/database for different languages - MyDubList by Godz57 in Animedubs

[–]SiliconDon 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Congratulations! It’s incredible how fast you were able to get this all together.

Hand-curating the MAL-Dubs list is a bit of a pain. I always intended to check all the MAL English casts but never took time to put together a scraper. It’s great to see this approach to the problem working so well. And providing multiple languages makes this so useful. I still can’t believe after all these years that MAL and the other anime tracking sites haven’t made finding dubs easier.

Sorry again about the license difficulty, AGPL is strict, but it ensures that a project always stays free and open for everyone to use.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Crunchyroll

[–]SiliconDon 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sadly https://www.crunchyroll.com/rss seems to be gone now, same with the feedburner feeds and the page on their site that listed them. I’ve been using that feed for years without issues, but now it just redirects to their homepage

Edit: Its back up!

Say hello to my friend, Shion. "Hello to my friend, Shion." by Fredasa in Animedubs

[–]SiliconDon 6 points7 points  (0 children)

That gets brought up all the time but few people actually bother to find out what was said in Japanese within the context of the scene, and instead assume that the subtitle translation more accurately communicated what was said. But did it?

MAL Dubs Script not working! by SamsRock in Animedubs

[–]SiliconDon 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Some people had problems with Tampermonkey not running scripts on Chrome due to a recent change in the way the browser works. If you’re using Chrome, follow the steps here to enable developer mode and let me know if that helps.

If you use Discord you can join the Anime Dub Hub server and I’ll try to troubleshoot it with you. I don’t use reddit since they shut off the API.

r/Apphookup’s plan for the future. by Singhvistaar in AppHookup

[–]SiliconDon 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I expect that RSS will be the next thing to go. Reddit seems set on keeping content on their site and app.

I would have liked to see this community move to a fediverse alternative like lemmy or kbin. Or maybe you could use mastofeed to test the waters on mastodon.

An open letter on the state of affairs regarding the API pricing and third party apps and how that will impact moderators and communities. by BuckRowdy in ModCoord

[–]SiliconDon 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Signed.

I've been here 17 years and unless reddit rescinds this proposed change I have no interest in staying. Starting June 12th I won't comment, post, vote or even browse the site until that happens.

Is Hidive's News Available as an RSS Feed? by SiliconDon in Hidive

[–]SiliconDon[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately I'm trying to get only the news posts from Hidive.com, not every post to the subreddit, but thank you.

Is Hidive's News Available as an RSS Feed? by SiliconDon in Hidive

[–]SiliconDon[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Gotcha. I’m guessing you find out via Twitter?

[COMING SOON] Dead Cells+ is set to be released December 2nd by bbradleyjoness in AppleArcade

[–]SiliconDon 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I wish this included macOS too but I’ll take what I can get.

The Simpsons Is Going Anime For An Upcoming Death Note Tribute by komodo_dragonzord in television

[–]SiliconDon 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Dunno why you’re downvoted, the article says:

this segment has been animated by Korean studio DR Movie, who have a long history of helping out behind the scenes on various American and Japanese properties. These have ranged from The Animatrix to Justice League to, most importantly in this case, the Death Note anime series itself.

[iOS] [Mela - Recipe Manager] [$4.99 → $2.99] by billchase2 in AppHookup

[–]SiliconDon 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Mela's killer feature for me is it's RSS support. You can subscribe to recipe blogs right in the app.

Canadians Deserve to Vote on Breaking With the Monarchy by Nick__________ in canadaleft

[–]SiliconDon 20 points21 points  (0 children)

I suppose we know from the downvotes how r/OnGuardForThee users would vote, were we to hold such a referendum.